Sealing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for sealing the joint between two pieces of wood in an airtight manner. A longitudinal grove is created in the face of one of the pieces of wood. The groove has an upper portion and a narrower lower portion. Suitable compressible seal means such as a foam rod is placed in the groove. When the face of the second piece of wood is placed against the first face, the compressible seal means is compressed and forms an airtight seal. The remaining space in the upper groove portion allows longitudinal airflow along the length of the sealing means ameliorating moisture build up problems.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Canadian Patent Application 2,532,832 filed on Jan. 13, 2006 entitled “Sealing Method and Apparatus”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sealing the joints between pieces of wood used in the construction of a building.

BACKGROUND

In the construction of buildings there are numerous joints formed by abutting pieces of wood. Due to imperfections in the wood itself or in the underlying surface that is supporting the wood, it is frequently very difficult to get the faces of both pieces of wood forming the joint to be exactly true to each other. If the adjoining faces of the two pieces of wood are not true to each other, such joints will be compromised and gaps and cracks will result. If the joint is on the perimeter of a building, this leads to the loss of heat to the exterior of the building. The loss of heat through imperfect exterior joints can result in damage to the exterior cladding such as stucco or siding.

There are a number of prior art sealing methods that have been used to try and create an airtight seal between two pieces of wood to try and overcome the aforementioned problems of imperfect joints. One such method comprises placing a flexible seal between the two pieces of wood forming the joint. The problem with such a method is that it can alter the dimensions of the finished joint. Further, once lateral airflow is blocked by the seal there can be moisture build up against the seal resulting in damage to the wooden joint.

What is needed is a method and an apparatus for airtight sealing the joint between two adjoining pieces of wood which does not alter the dimensions of the joint, and which mitigates the problem of moisture build up at the seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for creating an airtight sealing a joint between two pieces of wood such that the dimensions of the joint are unaltered and that allows longitudinal airflow along the length of the seal while preventing lateral airflow through the seal.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a method of sealing a joint between a face of a first piece of wood and a face of a second piece of wood comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) making at least one longitudinal groove along the face of         the first piece of wood, the groove having a lower groove         portion and an upper groove portion, the upper groove portion         being wider than the lower groove portion;     -   (b) inserting elongate compressible seal means into the length         of the at least one longitudinal groove such that the         compressible seal means protrudes out beyond the face of the         first piece of wood when in its uncompressed state; and     -   (c) placing the face of the second piece of wood against the         face of the first piece of wood thereby compressing the         compressible seal means and forming an airtight seal between the         face of the first piece of wood and the face of the second piece         of wood;         whereby the compressed compressible seal means distends filling         the lower groove portion while only partially filling the upper         groove portion such that a longitudinal channel of space is         created in the upper groove portion on each side of the         compressible seal means.

In one embodiment of the method of the present invention the lower groove portion is substantially semicircular and the upper groove portion has beveled walls sloping out and away from the lower groove portion. In a further embodiment, the beveled walls of the upper groove portion are sloped at about a 45° angle relative to the face of the first piece of wood. In one embodiment, the compressible seal means may comprise a foam rod or a rubber gasket.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a method of sealing the joint between a face of a foundation ladder and a face of a rim joist of a building comprising:

-   -   (a) making a longitudinal groove along the face of the rim         joist, the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper         groove portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the         lower groove portion;     -   (b) inserting elongate compressible seal means into the length         of the groove such that the compressible seal means protrudes         out beyond the face of the rim joist when in its uncompressed         state; and     -   (c) placing the face of the foundation ladder against the face         of the rim joist thereby compressing the compressible seal means         and forming an airtight seal between the face of the rim joist         and the face of the foundation ladder.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the invention comprises a method of sealing the joint between a face of a bottom plate of an exterior wall frame and a subfloor of a building comprising:

-   -   (a) making a longitudinal groove along the face of the bottom         plate, the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper         groove portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the         lower groove portion;     -   (b) inserting elongate compressible seal means into the length         of the groove such that the compressible seal means protrudes         out beyond the face of the bottom plate when in its uncompressed         state; and     -   (c) placing the subfloor against the face of the bottom plate         thereby compressing the compressible seal means and forming an         airtight seal between the face of the bottom plate and the         subfloor.

In one aspect of the present invention, the invention comprises a rim joist sealing apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a rim joist having a first end face and a second end face;     -   (b) at least one longitudinal groove along the first end face,         the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper groove         portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the lower         groove portion; and     -   (c) elongate compressible seal means contained in the at least         one longitudinal groove, the compressible seal means extending         the length of the groove and the compressible seal means         protruding out beyond the first end face of the rim joist when         in its uncompressed state;         whereby the compressible seal means when compressed distends         filling the lower groove portion while only partially filling         the upper groove portion such that a longitudinal channel of         space is created in the upper groove portion on each side of the         compressible seal means.

In one embodiment, the rim joist further comprises a longitudinal groove and compressible seal means on its second end face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not-to-scale drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the longitudinal groove in the face of the first piece of wood of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the uncompressed compressible seal means inserted into the longitudinal groove in the face of a first piece of wood of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the face of a second piece of wood compressing the compressible seal means of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of dual longitudinal grooves in the face of a first piece of wood of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the longitudinal groove in the face of a first piece of wood of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a rim joist having the seal means of the present invention at each end in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a pony wall having the seal means of the present invention at each end in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a building foundation and flooring joists having the seal means of the present invention in one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides for a sealing method and apparatus. When describing the present invention, all terms not defined herein have their common art-recognized meanings. To the extent that the following description is of a specific embodiment or a particular use of the invention, it is intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting of the claimed invention. The following description is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are included in the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The present invention comprises a method of air tight sealing the joint between a first piece of wood (22) and a second piece of wood (24). It should be understood having reference to the accompanying figures that the method of the present invention may be used to seal the joint between the faces of any two adjoining pieces of wood. The method of the present invention may be used with pieces of wood that are adjoined in an end-to-end configuration, or that are adjoined in a perpendicular orientation, or with any other joint configuration provided that two relatively flat faces will be placed against each other to form the joint.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first step of the method of the present invention comprises making a longitudinal groove (12) in the face (20) of one of the pieces of wood (22) that will form the joint. The groove (12) comprises a lower groove portion (16) and an upper groove portion (14). The upper groove portion (14) is wider than the lower groove portion (16). As can be seen in FIG. 1, the walls (18) of the upper groove portion (14) can be beveled sloping out and away from the center of the groove (12) however, as is shown in FIG. 5, the walls (18) of the upper groove portion may be constructed in other orientations. The lower groove portion (16) can be semicircular as also shown in the Figures.

An elongate compressible seal means (30) is inserted into the length of the groove (12) so that it protrudes beyond the face of the first piece of wood (20) as shown in FIG. 2. The compressible seal means (30) may be a foam rod as shown in the Figures, or can be a rubber gasket or such other suitable material as would be selected by one skilled in the art. The compressible seal means must be able to form a substantially airtight seal and must be able to compact sufficiently so as not to alter the dimensions of the joint when it is compressed by the second piece of wood.

When the joint is created by bringing the face of the second piece of wood (26) together with the face of the first piece of wood (20) having the longitudinal groove (12), the face of the second piece of wood (26) compresses the seal means (30). The compressed seal means (30) distends and expands within the groove (12) filling the lower groove portion (16) and partially filling the upper groove portion (14) as shown in FIG. 3. The compressed seal means (30) forms an airtight seal between the face of the first piece of wood (20) and the face of the second piece of wood (26) and thus prevents any lateral movement of air through the joint. The remaining unfilled part of the upper groove portion (14) comprises a longitudinal channel (32) on each side of the compressed seal means (30). The longitudinal channels (32) permit longitudinal airflow along each side of the seal means (30). This airflow prevents the build of moisture within joint adjacent to the sealing means (30).

As can be seen in FIG. 3, notwithstanding the presence of the seal means (30), the face of the first piece of wood (20) and the face of the second piece of wood (26) still make physical contact and as such the dimensions of the joint are not altered.

As shown in FIG. 4, dual grooves (12) can be used to increase the integrity of the airtight seal. FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a rim joist (50) and a pony wall (52) respectively, utilizing the sealing method of the present invention. The rim joist (50) can have the longitudinal groove (12) and associated seal means (30) located at its first end face (31) and on its second end face (33) as seen in FIG. 6. As also depicted, wider pieces of wood may be placed at the end of the rim joist to accommodate the groove (12) and seal means (30) if required. As shown in FIG. 8, the method of the present invention is particularly well suited to use in sealing the joints between the foundation ladder or sill plate (60) and a rim joist (50) of a building, and for sealing the joints between the sub floor (64) and the wall frame (68). When a concrete foundation (61) is constructed, a ladder (60) is placed horizontally at the top of the foundation. A rim joist (50) is placed around the perimeter of the building to abut the floor joists (62). Due to the imprecise nature of building construction, the concrete foundation (61) and the attached ladder (60) are rarely true resulting in gaps between the joint between the rim joist (50) and the ladder (60). These gaps result in heat loss and moisture penetration into the foundation of the building.

The wall frame (68) includes the bottom plate (66) which sits on the subfloor (64). The seals of the present invention may advantageously be used between the rim joist (50) and the subfloor (64), and between the subfloor (64) and the bottom plate (66) of the wall frame (68). It can be understood that the present sealing method may be used in other aspects of building construction.

As may be seen in FIG. 8, the entire perimeter of the building is sealed from the foundation (61) upwards.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the scope of the invention claimed herein. 

1. A method of sealing a joint between a face of a first piece of wood and a face of a second piece of wood comprising the steps of: (a) making at least one longitudinal groove along the face of the first piece of wood, the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper groove portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the lower groove portion; (b) inserting elongate compressible seal means into the length of the at least one longitudinal groove such that the compressible seal means protrudes out beyond the face of the first piece of wood when in its uncompressed state; and (c) placing the face of the second piece of wood against the face of the first piece of wood thereby compressing the compressible seal means and forming an airtight seal between the face of the first piece of wood and the face of the second piece of wood; whereby the compressed compressible seal means distends filling the lower groove portion while only partially filling the upper groove portion such that a longitudinal channel of space is created in the upper groove portion on each side of the compressible seal means.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower groove portion is substantially semicircular and the upper groove portion has beveled walls sloping out and away from the lower groove portion.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the beveled walls of the upper groove portion are sloped at an angle of about 45° relative to the face of the first piece of wood.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the compressible seal means comprises a foam rod.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the compressible seal means comprises a rubber gasket.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein two substantially parallel longitudinal grooves are formed along the face of the first piece of wood.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first piece of wood comprises a foundation ladder and the second piece of wood comprises a rim joist.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first piece of wood comprises a bottom plate of an exterior wall frame and the second piece of wood comprises a subfloor.
 9. A rim joist sealing apparatus comprising: (a) a rim joist having a first end face and a second end face; (b) at least one longitudinal groove along the first end face, the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper groove portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the lower groove portion; and (c) elongate compressible seal means contained in the at least one longitudinal groove, the compressible seal means extending the length of the groove and the compressible seal means protruding out beyond the first end face of the rim joist when in its uncompressed state; whereby the compressible seal means when compressed distends filling the lower groove portion while only partially filling the upper groove portion such that a longitudinal channel of space is created in the upper groove portion on each side of the compressible seal means.
 10. The rim joist of claim 9 further comprising: (a) a longitudinal groove along the second end face, the groove having a lower groove portion and an upper groove portion, the upper groove portion being wider than the lower groove portion, the longitudinal groove on the second end face being parallel in orientation the longitudinal groove at the first end face; and (b) elongate compressible seal means contained in the groove, the compressible seal means extending the length of the groove and the compressible seal means protruding out beyond the second end face of the rim joist when in its uncompressed state; whereby the compressible seal means when compressed distends filling the lower groove portion while only partially filling the upper groove portion such that a longitudinal channel of space is created in the upper groove portion on each side of the compressible seal means. 